There's no place like home

Well, this past weekend I went back to my hometown of Diana, TX. There really is nothing like being home. I love seeing familiar faces and talking to people I haven't seen in forever.

This was probably one of the best weekends I've had back home in a while. Its crazy because even to this day a lot of people think I'm still in NYC, but then I have to explain it was only an internship.

What brought me home was the Yamboree. The Yamboree is a festival for Sweet Potatoes. Yes, a sweet potato...a yam. They have a parade (aka ugly floats being pulled by ford trucks), a carnival (aka 6 rides that you fear might break because the carnies are too drunk to run them), and turkey legs and funnel cakes (disgusting and delicious all at once!)

When I got in town I spent a little bit of time with my mom and then went over to my friend Byrd's house. Everyone was drinking and playing washers. On Friday morning I took my two oldest nieces to the Yamboree (which was disappointing this year.) But I did see a sign on a children's ride that said "While on the ride: No Smoking, No Food or Drinks, and No Bare Feet." YOU KNOW its a problem if they are posting signs about it, I'm just saying. I had a carnie call me fat and said I was "too big" to ride on a carousel. At least I have all my teeth! And if he weren't on meth he'd probably be fat too! Stupid carnies!!

Friday night I met up with my new friend Derek and we rode 4 wheelers. We had an great time. I was even brave enough to let him ride up the steep hill, not once, but twice!! I went home took a shower and came back to pick him up and then we went to McCann. I saw SOO many people I hadn't seen in forever. And to be honest, that is one of my favorite things about coming home. I love hearing everyone yell "Sipes!!" and run up to me and give me a hug. It makes me feel special. I gotta give Derek props for being such a good sport, I felt like I didn't really get to hang out with him because people kept coming up to me. Finally we sat at a table and talked with another friend. Then once again off to Byrd's for some beer. After hours of hanging out, we finally left somewhere around 4am.

Saturday I went shopping with my sister-in-law for the kids' halloween costumes. That night I went to dinner with Derek. We had the most amazing sushi, saki, and conversation. Afterwards we headed to the Country Club for a birthday party. While there I kicked a little ace in washers, had a few drinks, and a few shots of Jack Daniels...which if you remember, isn't exactly my BFF. So I was ready to pass out stat! We went back to Byrd's house and I went to bed as soon as I got there. The next morning I was up and at 'em! I went and visited with my friend Julia for a while and then went and had dinner with Madre and my brother's family. Then it was back to Austin for a fun filled week of work. BLAH! I got home around 1:30am, but it was well worth it.

Yeah, being from a small town sucks sometimes, but there is no place like home. Especially when they have signs that tell you that you must wear shoes. And we wonder why Britney Spears is never at the Yamboree.

Cell phones are expensive....

So last night I went to a concert. Had fun, that was until drank too much, ate a lot of beans and coleslaw, and threw up. For anyone who knows me well, I mixed the beans and coleslaw together. Yeah, I know. Anyway, I managed to spill beer all over my phone so I am out of contact with the world it seems. I got a new phone through AT&T for $300. Yeah, they blow. I think from now on I'm gonna carry my phone in a fanny pack.

People Watching...

I love people watching. It's one of my favorite things to do. My favorite type of people watching is the he/she looks like fill in the celebrity. For example, "hey...see that guy right there, does he look like the best friend of the guy that held his nose a lot in Dazed and Confused. Yeah! Carl! That was his name!"

Last night while at the Charlie Robison concert we saw "Carl" from Dazed and Confused, "Christian Troy" from Nip/Tuck and, a mean old guy that looked like an overweight Ed Harris.

I also like to watch people just to see what they are like. There was this one guy and he was just the happiest thing in the world to be at that concert, he was singing and knew every word and was smiling and laughing. And there was also a group of WT, which I'm sure they are related to me somehow on my Dad's side of the family. haha But they were fun to watch because they were an enviroment unlike their own. Going to concerts is a great place to people watch because there are all breeds of people. So, if you are in a people watching mood, I suggest you head to a concert near you.

How Rude!

Stephanie from "Full House" said it best. "How Rude!"

Seriously, why the hell are people so rude? One incident today has got me fired up. Why be rude, especially when someone is trying to be nice to you.

This reminds me of another time I saw people being rude. It was while I was in New York City. There was this blind man trying to order food and find a seat in a crowded ass Burger King. It was totally obvious he was blind. NO ONE would help him and people were really rude to him when he accidently bumped into them. HE IS FUCKING BLIND! Don't you people have a heart. I was walking by the Burger King when I saw this. I felt so bad for this guy that I walked into the fast food chain and helped him find a seat. I also proceeded to open up his ketchup packages and make sure he had everything he need for his meal. Never in my life had I met anyone as grateful as that man.

My point is it takes 5 seconds and almost no effort to be nice. I think it takes more effort to be rude. Brighten someone's day, be nice, do one nice thing. And one more thing, don't be an a-hole on purpose, it will come back to haunt you.

Morticia Adams

Is there anything wrong with knowing what you would want done in the event that you pass away? I don't think so. I think its realistic. EVERYONE is going to die at some point. So why not make it easier on your friends and family and let them know what you want done in the event that you should pass on. One of my co-workers says I'm too young to have this kind of stuff planned out. Well, you never know when you last day is, so why not be prepared. Its not like I dwell on death. I'd rather not think about it, but it is a part of life. Trust me, I want to live as long as I can. I want to see my nieces and nephew grow up, graduate college, get married, and start families of their own.

On a less depressing note, my friend and I found a jewel of a bar last night. Its called Giddy Up. Its the trashiest little dive bar I've ever been to and we loved every minute of it. Everyone there has been going there the last 30 years of their life. Sunday nights are karaokee night. I sang a ton of songs from Country Legends such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings etc. It was a great time. I think I might become a Sunday night regular. Except I won't go back to my trailer and bitch at my alcoholic husband when I get there. So 2 thumbs up for Giddy Up.

No More Mr. Nice Guy.

Okay, enough is enough. I have decided that after this weekend I am going to stop being the nice person. I am going to stop letting people run over me. I am going to do what I want to do.

I had friends come in this weekend which I was excited about. That was until I felt like my house was just their hotel. I finally stood up to my friend and told her actions were not appreciated. There is so much more to the story that I just can't get in to.

Today I wrote an e-mail to a guy I once bought an airline ticket for. He called the night before his flight left and decided he wasn't coming anymore. Even though I was very pissed, I let it go. But I decided today that what he did was wrong. So, I wrote him an e-mail asking for my $300 back.

If I don't start sticking up for myself, no one will. Frankly, I'm tired of being run over, so I need to keep it from happening and stop sitting in the streets.

Sad to say, but no more mister nice guy.

Working for the weekend...

Well, its Thursday, but this has been the longest week known to man. I am so ready for this weekend and it can't get here fast enough. I have 2 friends from east Texas coming and I'm also meeting up with some friends to float the river. Should be fun.

I've been thinking a lot about an old friend of mine lately. We kinda had a falling out, which I'm not sure why. I say we were just friends, but in reality we were more. Now that I think about it, maybe he wasn't generally interested. Or maybe our timing was bad, because he moved and things ended. I started hanging out with another guy and then I moved and we were 1000's of miles apart. We talk very rarely, I think we made up, but then I'm not sure. At the very least I want to remain friends with him, but sometimes feel like that isn't what he wants. When I lived in NYC he called me all the time. Of course at that point I had "moved on" and was interested in my next failed attempt at a relationship, so I never answered the calls. It sucks, because I genuinely care for this guy, but the only time I ever hear from him anymore is in a random drunk dial. I've always heard you tell the truth when you are drunk, well if that is the case then why does he act like he hates me when he is sober? Is it a front he is putting on so that I won't know that he actually gets along with me. Is he trying to fool himself? Or am I just an idiot? Either way, it all sucks.

Why is it the one that you are interested in, is never interested in you?

Is it that, or by human nature, do we just like the chase? And everyone wonders why I vow to be single forever.